Last season had a grim opening night for Boston Celtics All-Star wingman Gordon Hayward.
As their marquee free agent acquisition last summer, everything was supposed to be great for Hayward and the Celtics. Five minutes into the opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the unimaginable happened. A freak accident off an awkward landing on an alley-oop gave him a fractured tibia and a dislocated ankle. His season was done in an instant.
Currently, a healthy and fully recovered Hayward looks forward to the upcoming season. Without taking a moment to reflect, Hayward said that he is over the gruesome moment in his past.
Gordon Hayward says he has not watched the video of his injury and won't do so in the future: "I haven't watched it…I don't plan on watching the video. I'm moving forward and past it."
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) September 13, 2018
Hayward's resilience to his past adversity is highly admirable, but his method to forget and focus on the season is even more commendable.
Despite the All-Star duo of Kyrie Irving and Hayward being shelved due to injuries, the young Celtics made a deep playoff run with their versatile roster. Unfortunately facing a roadblock in a LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers squad in the Eastern Conference Finals, their valiant effort would not go unnoticed even if they lost the series in Game 7.
Many minds wonder how far a Celtic team at full strength would go — a thought that Hayward surely has on his mind. That said, his eagerness to be on the court and contribute is definitely understandable.
The wait for that thought may finally be over with Hayward and Irving expected to join the starting unit in the season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Exciting as it is, only time will tell how good this season will be with more players finally healthy to showcase what they can do on the court.
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